"He is very angry, and sometimes his interactions with staff can range from disrespectful to profane," the assistant told me when I asked about the one student in the program I was subbing for.
I saw what he meant a moment later when the seventh grader came in, pacing restlessly around the room. When I introduced myself, he ignored me. "You're breakfast is there," the assistant said, gesturing toward the desk.
"I'm not blind, Bruh!" the kid exploded. "I can see the fucking food." He continued to walk the perimeter of the room and then asked to take a walk. His one-to-one aide went with him. While they were gone, another teacher came by to ask that they make sure he got to his first class on time, since there was a guest speaker. "He can come back here to work afterwards," she shrugged, "but it would be less disruptive if he were there when the bell rang.
The assistant was still talking to her in the hall when the student returned. "Your science teacher came to tell you that there's a guest speaker today," I said to him. He turned with interest. "She wants to make sure you're on time so you don't miss it," I added.
He nodded. "I used to teach here," I told him. "I still know a bunch of kids. Who are you friends with?"
He mentioned a few people I did know, and I told him so, offering enough information to show I wasn't faking it. "Do you play any sports?" I asked him.
From there, we talked about football, P.E., his favorite class, where he went to elementary school, and even how he did back in second grade when COVID hit and he had to learn remotely from home. Before we knew it, it was time for him to go so that he would be on time for the speaker in science.
"Have a good class!" I said as his one-to-one escorted him out the door.
"Wow," the assistant said when they were gone. "He actually had a conversation with you. I have not seen that from him before."
I laughed. "Middle school kids can't resist me!"
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